Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Serving - are you groaning already? Christian teachers (in youth, Sunday School, church, seminars etc) will tell you to serve. But did you realise that you can't just serve? You need to "work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23) Read on.

Serving - "I love God"

When you serve WHOLEHEARTEDLY you speak with your actions; your actions tell people "I am willing to serve because I love God and follow His example." Believe me, people WILL notice you when you serve. They think " wow, she freely gives her time and effort to help others. I wouldn't do that. What's different?" You will make an impact on them. Who knows, maybe your actions will eventually lead someone to Christ! So, serving shows people you love God.

Serving - "I love You, God"

When you serve WHOLEHEARTEDLY you tell God "I love You." You are saying "Lord, I know You died for me and others. I want to follow that example and serve You and the people around me. I love You and so love these people like You love them."

Paraphrased: "If you really love me then you will serve My people."The Apostle John also said "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands." (1 John 5:2-3a) Hey, guess what one of God's commandments is - "Love your neighbour as yourself" (which means serving them). So... if you show your love for God by serving others.

So, what can you do to serve? Guess what? I'm not going to tell you. I'm sure you can come up with many ideas. But here's the challenge: ACTUALLY SERVE! It's so easy to go "yeah, yeah, I'll serve" but not do anything about it. Take the challenge. Practice serving. It took me a bit to get better at and in more of a habit of serving others (I say 'more of a habit' because I still need to work on it). Hmm, can you see Mum or Dad doing the dishes or making dinner? Cleaning up? Collapsing in a heap (or about to)? (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge. :P)

Monday, 17 October 2011

Hello again! Just to let you know, I will post once per week, no more.

Here is a wonderful poem that I wanted to post. Feel free to print it up or copy it.

If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I find myself taking lapses for granted, "Oh, that's what they always do," "Oh, of course she talks like that, he acts like that," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected" if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where there is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.If I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am soft to myself and slide comfortably into self-pity and self-sympathy; If I do not by the grace of God practice fortitude, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.If, the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my threshold, I do not shut the door, and keep that door shut, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel injured when another lays to my charge things that I know not, forgetting that my sinless Savior trod this path to the end, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel bitter toward those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they would condemn me much more, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it, because the spirit of discernment is not in me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I crave hungrily to be used to show the way of liberty to a soul in bondage, instead of caring only that it be delivered; if I nurse my disappointment when I fail, instead of asking that to another the word of release may be given, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not forget about such a trifle as personal success, so that it never crosses my mind, or if it does, is never given room there; if the cup of flattery tastes sweet to me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I refuse to allow one who is dear to me to suffer for the sake of Christ, if I do not see such suffering as the greatest honor that can be offered to any follower of the Crucified, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I slip into the place that can be filled by Christ alone, making myself the first necessity to a soul instead of leading it to fasten upon Him, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If my interest in the work of others is cool; if I think in terms of my own special work; if the burdens of others are not my burdens too, and their joys mine, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the ultimate, the hardest, cannot be asked of me; if my fellows hesitate to ask it and turn to someone else, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Hello all! Welcome to my blog, "Purely His" (the 'His' being Jesus).

The purpose of this blog is to share with teen and preteen girls my thoughts and feelings on purity and living for Jesus. I have come on an incredible journey, because 'a wrong turn has brought me to the right place.' This has happened through God's amazing providence and Him knowing what lies ahead.

One message I want to get across to you now is I AM NOT PERFECT! It may sound like I'm pretty 'up myself and down others' (although I'll try to make it not sound like it) but this is totally false. I wish only to encourage you, and I acknowledge that I still need a heap of work.

So, jump onto the pages in the tabs section and read what I have to say! Hope you like it!

Your sister in Christ,

Cassie xo

P.S. All bad comments will be viewed by my parents!

P.P.S This blog is a minestry, so PLEASE tell others about it. It's public, searchable on Google etc.

About Me

Hi! I'm Cassie! I love to read, dance, cook, hang out with friends and learm about and experience my Lord Jesus. Oh, I homeschool too. I'm passionate about girls being pure and following God well. Love it if you'd follow, or write a comment to tell me what you think of my posts!